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Our Associates

We are currently seeking vibrant, dynamic and highly experienced school educators to join our growing pool of Associates to facilitate our suite of programs throughout Victoria.

Please email your expression of interest, including a detailed CV, to hr.anz@mottmac.com Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Cambridge Education's Associates are made up of education experts who were/are exceptional school leaders or teachers; highly motivated and engaging facilitators; passionate and knowledgeable about school leadership, empowering effective teachers, and building positive climates for learning.

Meet some of our Associates below...

Noelle Burdekin

Noelle has extensive educational leadership experience working in a range of settings and differing roles. She worked as Principal in Regional Victoria for a number of years. Prior to these positions she was a Cluster Educator and a Teaching and Learning coach. As a cluster educator for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development she had wide ranging experience in facilitating and preparing workshops across the network. Through this experience, she has developed a keen understanding of effective models of developing adult learning. Noelle has had valuable experience as host principal as part of the Principal Intern program. Noelle has highly developed skills in coaching and mentoring and a sophisticated understanding of the coaching relationship.

Gary Campbell

Gary has worked as a principal in urban and rural settings of up to 650 enrolments, including a high performing school. He focused on improving literacy and numeracy within his school, but also successfully implemented programs supporting science, new technology, and student leadership. Gary served as Boroondara Network Leader where he led purposeful meetings with working parties reporting on curriculum, student support and collegiate development. He was involved with the Department of Education and Training’s Experienced Principal’s Program assisting principals in developing a future plan for their schools. Gary has led internal and external reviews for the Department of Education and International Baccalaureate Organisation. His understanding of data analysis to improve teaching and learning performance is combined with experience in leading complex communities and improving teacher performance.

Donna Galvin

Ten years spent in education as a business manager, facilities manager, and project manager in schools with the Victorian Department of Education and Training. As a business manager, role is to manage the implementation and delivery of services within the school in accordance with the decisions made by the School Council and Principal. Ensure the Financial, Human Resources, Facilities and OH&S management while complying with regulatory and legislative requirements and departmental policies. Ensure that stakeholders (internal and external) are provided with up-to-date information relating to the school, students, activities and awareness of their responsibilities. Work strategically with staff to implement change management initiatives and professional development of education support staff. Experience in developing professional learning presentations and their delivery for business managers, principals, education support and department staff. Leading projects responsible for development, project planning, evaluation, stakeholder management and facilitation. Responsible for leading the implementation of new technologies into schools, resulting in more efficient processes, cohesive working environments and resource savings.

Jan Gregory

Jan has extensive leadership experience as a primary and secondary school principal and a system leader in the role of Regional Network leader in the education department. She is an accredited coach through GROWTH Coaching International. Jan has presented workshops sessions to groups of principals, aspirant leaders, teaching and non-teaching staff and has presented at conferences both locally and internationally. She is currently completing her PhD thesis that investigates the links between principal leadership and professional learning to improve student learning outcomes.

Jonathan Heard

15 years’ experience in Victorian government schools as a teacher, teaching and learning coach and a leading teacher: Director of Pedagogy.

Detailed knowledge of student learning and instructional practice shared through the provision of multiple professional learning presentations at school, state and interstate level, delivery of workshops, educational leadership modules for aspirant leaders and engaging in teacher-coaching relationships in schools. Highly experienced in the design, implementation and management of rigorous teacher professional learning team (PLT) processes. Has developed teacher capacity in the practice of objective collegiate observation, microteaching and the provision of targeted and constructive feedback.

Heather Hopcroft

40 years’ experience in education. Driven school improvement as a Regional Network Leader overseeing school improvement across primary, secondary and special schools. Worked closely with principals and school leadership teams, developing leadership capabilities and providing advice and support on the implementation of consistent high quality teaching and learning practices.

Principal in three metropolitan primary schools. A strong teaching and learning focus and the facilitation of teamwork and collaboration. Highly involved in coaching and classroom observation across schools, leading Instructional Rounds programs. Building and enhancing the capacity of teachers and principals, a core element in her many workshop and keynote presentations at conferences, locally, nationally, and internationally.

As a trained coach, mentored and coached in programs for principals and aspiring leaders. Excellent communicator, facilitator and strategic thinker. Wealth of educational experience, understanding and passion for enhancing leadership in schools. Worked at school, regional and central levels including Bastow Institute of Leadership. Experience in project and policy development including a thorough knowledge of the development and implementation of the Communities of Practice approach to collaborative learning for educational leaders.

Catharine Hydon

Catharine has extensive experience in the early childhood sector in Australia and overseas. Beginning as a teacher in a sessional kindergarten program. Catharine has gone on to manage a range of services for children and their families from long day settings to community hubs. Catharine has a Masters in Early Childhood Education specialising in early childhood practice, policy and governance, the delivery of integrated services and the exploration of innovative programs to engage vulnerable children and their families. Catharine draws on this study in her work with practitioners to consider how theory connects and informs practice. Catharine’s involvement in the early childhood field is an important part of her commitment to the sector. She is a long-time member of the Early Childhood Australia (ECA) currently serves as the Co-chair of the Reconciliation Advisory group a regular contributor in ECA publications.

Catharine is particularly interested in professionalism and the place of professional ethics in practice and been a member of the ECA Code of Ethics working group for the last two reviews. Catharine is also a member of the Respectful Relationship Expert Advisory Group for the Victorian Department of Education and the EY-10 Curriculum and Assessment Committee for the VCAA. Catharine is a dynamic speaker and collaborative facilitator and is skilled at engaging professionals in reflective dialogue and creative conversations.

Dr Judy Larsen

Judy has extensive experience in education across all sectors, including teaching at primary, secondary and university levels in both the UK and Australia. She has worked as a primary and secondary teacher, school principal of a large, innovative secondary school in Western Australia, curriculum developer, education consultant and researcher. As Commonwealth Relations Trust Scholar, Judy completed her PhD from the Institute of Education, University of London on change and innovation in secondary schools. Over the last 18 years Judy has undertaken a broad range of research and consultancy in the UK and Europe including with the Department for Education (London), local authorities and schools. Judy has combined working with the National College for Leadership (UK) developing and leading professional development for current and future school leaders across London with similar work in Australia. She provides personal career coaching and mentoring to aspirant school and corporate leaders, including supporting leaders in schools in challenging circumstances.

Louise Pearce

Over 20 years as the principal of two government primary schools. Focussed on continuous, evidence-based improvement, leading to high performing teams and a successful distributive model of leadership. Introduced the International Baccalaureate-Primary Years (IB-PYP) Programme to Coatesville PS in 2010. Harnessed whole school commitment to human, financial and technical support for sustained implementation of the IB-PYP. Led all stages of numerous school review requirements by the Victorian Department of Education and Training and the International Baccalaureate Organisation. Served on the Executives of IB-PYP Victorian network and the local network of government schools.

Extensive experience in creating, leading and sustaining a positive school climate and strong culture of staff professional learning that build collective responsibility for improving student learning outcomes and enhancing student wellbeing. Recognition and support of middle management leaders by enabling their participation in formal coaching programs which have enhanced their capacity to drive improved performance within and across their teaching teams. Ongoing commitment to, and engagement in, coaching and mentoring of new and aspiring principal class colleagues at local, regional and international levels.

Debbie Peynenborg

Debbie is a qualified coach and educational consultant with 36 years’ experience in education. Following her time as a school principal, Debbie spent eight years in senior management roles focused on building teacher and leader capacity for school improvement with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Victoria). She also worked at the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership developing and overseeing professional learning for school leaders. Debbie currently coaches aspirant and experienced school leaders across Victoria.

Charlotte Rendle-Short

Charlotte was a senior executive with United Learning, one of the UK's largest not-for-profit educational organisations, for 15 years. In this role she provided support and guidance to principals and school leaders from a wide range of contexts across the private and government sectors. The key focus of her work was to enable schools to grow and flourish in response to the challenges of continuous improvement. Prior to her time in this role she spent 15 years as a teacher, senior leader and principal in both Victoria and the UK. Charlotte brings to her work an ability to think strategically and to coach leadership teams as they take ideas, analyse and shape them into an effective strategy.

Greg Sperling

Greg has 15 years’ experience in Principal Class, including being the Foundation Principal of two new schools developed from green field sites. His 35 year teaching career includes experience in Victorian state schools, indigenous schools in Far North Queensland and in Catholic education. Greg led schools using innovative curriculum programs with a strong emphasis on relationships and effective teaching practice. He has extensive experience in all levels of school operations, including curriculum development, staff and leadership team development, performance and development frameworks, Learning Space design and resourcing, and alignment of resources to student outcomes. Greg has Instructional Rounds and school reviewer accreditation and is a Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) presenter with experience with Herrmann Brain Dominance Indicator (HBDI).

Lisa Sperling

Lisa has been a teacher and school leader for 30 years, focusing her career on student achievement, relationships and leadership development. As a principal, she managed the essential business, technical and HR systems in large complex schools to support the best learning outcomes for students. Her school leadership style was characterised by a strong teaching and learning focus, facilitating teamwork and collaboration and clear and transparent processes. Lisa has highly developed skills in data analysis, school accountability, school improvement theory and practice and coaching as well as a deep understanding of current government policy and programs.

Sharon Walker

Sharon is a qualified coach and educational consultant with 36 years’ experience in education. During her time as a school principal, she has led schools during significant periods of changed and has worked with staff across the state. She has presented a range of professional learning for educators at state-wide and regional conferences primarily focusing on building teacher and leadership capacity for school improvement. Sharon has also worked at the school level with leadership teams and staff supporting schools in building effective Professional Learning Communities. She is currently coaching leadership teams as well as aspirant and experienced school leaders across Victoria.